The Protected Harvest Program, Soquel, Calif., monitors growing practices, chemical usage and social commitment and has given the company its sustainable certification, he said.

SunWest even has a special Zeal label that emphasizes to consumers in the U.S. and overseas that its product is environmentally friendly.

Organic citrus should start shipping around the same time as conventional citrus.

Homegrown Organic Farms, Strathmore, Calif., expected to start picking navels in the first 10 days of November, similar to last year, said Scott Mabs, director of marketing. Mandarins should start in mid-November followed by satsumas. The company plans to have a block of clementines for the first time this year.

“It won’t be a large amount this year, but it will be something to get started with,” he said.

Pacific Organic’s lemons out of the desert could be down 25% this season, Stair said.

“There was a freeze last winter which affected the set for the upcoming crop,” he said.

Lemon shipments began the week of Oct. 3, and grapefruit started the week of Oct. 17.

The company’s grapefruit deal likely will be similar to last year’s 50,000 cartons because the firm added acreage to compensate for freeze losses.

The firm plans to ship about 40,000 cartons of lemons, which should peak on a relatively small 140 count size. Grapefruit size should be larger than last year. Navels were expected the first week of November, and they should peak on 56 to 72 count.

Eco-Farm plans to start picking its organic navels in the San Joaquin Valley in November and in January in the Temecula area, Taft said. The company ships minneolas from January until March or April and offers valencia oranges from April until October or November.

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About the Author:

Tom Burfield, Western Correspondent

Tom Burfield has been Western correspondent for The Packer for more than 20 years, and he also writes for Produce Retailer magazine and has contributed to several other Farm Journal Media publications.